The National Identification Authority (NIA) Tuesday commenced the operationalisation of its 17 regional and 275 district offices across the country.

The Authority, in a statement signed by Abudu Abdul Ganiyu, the Head of Corporate Affairs, said the decentralisation initiative would increase access to the Ghana Card, other related registration activities and the NIA's visibility throughout the nation.

The operation, it said, was in line with NIA's statutory mandate to register and issue National Identity Cards (Ghana Cards) to all Ghanaians from age zero to infinity, as well as foreign nationals lawfully resident in Ghana.

The statement said the NIA would engage in public sensitisation with community leaders on the operations at the regional and district offices.

"From 7th June onwards, there would be the Issuance of Ghana Cards to Ghanaians who registered during the mass registration exercise but could not get their cards," it said.

"The continuation of public education and sensitisation across the regions and districts, registering of Ghanaians aged 15 years and above for the Ghana Card, replacement of lost, stolen, and damaged Ghana Cards and update of personal information of applicants in the National Identity Register (NIR) would take place from the 5th to 18th of June, 2021."

The statement said the NIA would announce in due course the timelines for the registration of Ghanaians under the age of 15 years.

"The Regional and District offices of the NIA will operate within the usual business hours from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, and respectfully requests the co-operation and support of members of the general public," it said.